Philippa Hanna - Off the Wagon Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
I am blindfold, for my freedom
I've been ?, from fear and shame
I was taken from a ?
But it's so easy to forget how far I came
Now I'm on the, road to glory
I got my ticket, for heaven's train
But if I'm weary, 'cause the road is really dragging?
And if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?
Chorus 1
Keep on driving, keep on driving
All the way to beautiful horizons
Keep on driving, keep on driving along
Where? if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?
Verse 2
It's a long week, heavy journey
There's no end to those twist and turns
With no direction, just a heart that says keep going
And eventually, you'll see the sun's going home
There'll be many, along the roadside
Broken down and in need of a hand
So let's be ready, to reach on out? and grab 'em
And if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?
Chorus 1
Keep on driving, keep on driving
All the way to beautiful horizons
Keep on driving, keep on driving along
Where? if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?
Interlude
Bridge
Hey! Hey!
For the precious love of Jesus
I'll be thankful for all my days
And I'll look forward to the day that He returns
But while I'm waiting for His coming
Gonna make these tyres burn
Chorus 2
Keep on driving, keep on driving
All the way to beautiful horizons
Keep on driving, keep on driving along
Where? if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?
Keep on driving, keep on driving
If love is just a jail, honey, you're surviving
Gotta keep on driving, keep on driving along!
Where? if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?
Video
Philippa Hanna - Off the Wagon - [Official Music Video]
Meaning & Inspiration
"Off the Wagon," released on November 24, 2017, as part of the album "Come Back Fighting," stands as a powerful testament to Philippa Hanna's unique ability to blend authentic human struggle with unwavering faith. The song immediately establishes a narrative of profound transformation, recalling a past state where the speaker was, in essence, "blindfold" to true freedom, having been delivered from the grip of fear and shame. This initial imagery powerfully evokes a journey from spiritual captivity—a life potentially "taken from a pit" of despair or sin—into the light of salvation. The lyrics acknowledge the ease with which one can "forget how far I came," a universal human frailty that resonates deeply with scriptural warnings against forgetting God's past deliverances, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:11-14, which cautions against becoming proud and forgetting the Lord. The song quickly shifts to the present, declaring a present position "on the road to glory" with a "ticket for heaven's train," clearly signifying the believer's assured salvation and the Christian life as a purposeful journey toward eternity. Yet, with humble honesty, the heart of the song's plea emerges: a recognition of inevitable weariness and the possibility of stumbling. The direct question, "if I fall off the wagon, won't You put me right back on?", isn't a presumption of sin, but a vulnerable admission of human weakness and an earnest cry for divine mercy and restoration, mirroring the spirit of Proverbs 24:16, which assures us that even if the righteous fall seven times, they rise again because the Lord upholds them.
The chorus then becomes an anthem of perseverance and reliance on God, urging to "Keep on driving... All the way to beautiful horizons." This call to continuous forward motion in faith, even through the difficulties, beautifully aligns with Paul's exhortation in Philippians 3:14 to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." It’s a relentless pursuit of the divine promise, underscored by the repeated plea for restoration if one falters. The second verse expands on the gritty reality of this journey, describing it as a "long week, heavy journey" filled with "twist and turns." This speaks to the unpredictable and often challenging nature of life, where direction may not always be clear, yet an inner resolve, a "heart that says keep going," propels one forward with the hope of eventually seeing "the sun's going home"—a metaphor for reaching peace or the end of a trial. This perseverance in the face of life's complexities finds resonance in James 1:2-4, which encourages believers to "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." Crucially, the song broadens its scope beyond individual struggle to include a call to communal compassion. Recognizing that "There'll be many, along the roadside / Broken down and in need of a hand," Philippa Hanna transforms the personal journey into a shared mission. The exhortation, "So let's be ready, to reach on out and grab 'em," is a clear echo of scriptural commands to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to minister to the needy, demonstrating Christ's love in action, as detailed in Matthew 25:35-40.
The bridge serves as a powerful anchor, grounding the entire narrative in the ultimate source of strength and motivation: "For the precious love of Jesus / I'll be thankful for all my days." This profound expression of gratitude acknowledges the foundational sacrifice and enduring love of Christ (1 John 4:9-10). It shifts the gaze towards the glorious future, expressing a keen anticipation for "the day that He returns," aligning with the blessed hope of Christ's second coming found throughout Scripture, notably in Revelation 22:20. However, this future hope does not negate present responsibility; rather, it fuels it. The declaration, "But while I'm waiting for His coming / Gonna make these tyres burn," encapsulates a vibrant, active faith. It's a commitment to living zealously and purposefully for God in the here and now, serving with fervent spirit as encouraged by Romans 12:11, "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." The final chorus reiterates the core message of relentless pursuit and divine assistance. The line, "If love is just a jail, honey, you're surviving," can be interpreted as a poignant nod to the paradoxical nature of human experience; even when circumstances or relationships feel confining or challenging, like a "jail," the enduring spirit, fueled by divine grace, allows for survival and perseverance. It’s a message of resilience, assuring that even when life's burdens feel heavy, God's love and presence enable us not just to endure, but to keep "driving along" towards those beautiful horizons He promises. "Off the Wagon" is an inspiring anthem for the Christian walk, acknowledging both our human vulnerability and God's unfailing grace, making it a profound source of encouragement for anyone navigating the twists and turns of faith and life.